Concerned Citizens Pursue Appeal Against Richmond Dump

The Concerned Citizens Committee of Tyendinaga and Environs (CCCTE) has applied to Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal for leave to appeal certain conditions contained in the latest Richmond Landfill approval issued by the Ministry of the Environment.

Since June 2011, no waste has been accepted for disposal at the closed Richmond Landfill. However, the Ministry of the Environment recently amended the site’s licence under the Environmental Protection Act to impose obligations upon Waste Management related to environmental monitoring, contingency plans, and reporting in the post-closure period.

“My client’s position is that these new conditions are not sufficiently rigorous, and that more stringent safeguards should be included in the approval,” stated Richard Lindgren, an environmental lawyer who represents the CCCTE.

“From the public interest perspective, we believe that this massive landfill warrants careful monitoring and effective contingency plans in the event that remedial work may be required at the site,” said Mike Bosio, Chairperson of the CCCTE. “In our view, the conditions imposed by the Ministry do not achieve this purpose.”

“The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte are in support of this application to the Tribunal,” said Chief R. Donald Maracle of the MBQ. “We have always been concerned about off-site impacts since the surface water and groundwater at the landfill moves towards our community, and we want to see the strongest possible safeguards incorporated into the landfill’s licence.”

The CCCTE’s application was filed under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, and it is anticipated that the Tribunal may rule on the CCCTE application in March or April. If leave to appeal is granted, then the Tribunal will hold public hearings and render a legally enforceable decision in relation to the conditions under appeal.